Self-adjusting closure actuated switch assembly



March 11, 1969 M, J, sso 3,432,634

SELF-ADJUSTING CLOSURE ACTUATED SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 12, 1965 Sheet of 2 l- INVENTOR 2346.10

March 11, 1969 M. .1. BAsso 3,432,634

SELF-ADJUSTING CLOSURE ACTUATED SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 12, 1965 Sheet 2 of 2 2 M'vaae/ J'Bdsaa BY I 177-0 WIVEK Z' United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a switch assembly, an elongated tubular support member constructed of an electrically conductive material; a plunger member reciprocable relative to said support member between contact opening and closing positions; at least two terminal members for attachment to electrical conductor means; terminal carrying means constructed of a non-conductive material and adapted to secure said terminal members on said plunger member; a body member supporting said support member for adjustable sliding movement longitudinally of said body member; and spring means for resiliently urging said plunger member toward said contact closing position wherein said terminal members are concomitantly engaged with said support member.

The purpose of the above abstract is to provide a nonlegal technical statement of the disclosure of the contents of the instant patent application and thus serve as a searching-scanning tool for scientists, engineers and researchers. Accordingly, this abstract is not intended to be used in understanding or otherwise comprehending the principle of the present invention hereinafter described in detail, nor is it intended to be used in interpreting or in any way limiting the scope or fair meaning of the claims appended hereto.

This invention relates generally to electric switch assemblies which have an adjustable mounting feature adapting the assemblies for wide variety of diflerent installations. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in an adjustable switch assembly of the type disclosed in the applicants Patent 2,921,155, issued Jan. 12, 1960.

-T he switch assembly of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with closure members such as are found in automotive vehicles, namely, the main doors, glove and luggage compartment doors, and the like. Such switch assemblies normally operate lighting or other electrical circuits in response to opening and closing of the door members. The subject switch assemblies also find particularly useful application in operating brake lights in response to preselected'movement of the vehicles brake pedal. One particularly troublesome problem in installing switch assemblies of the above character in automotive vehicles. that are assembled under mass production conditions is the irregular clearance that exists between the various door members and then respective supporting sections or frame members of the vehicles, the clearance between any two similar doors and their respective door openings usually being appreciably different under normal mass production assembly conditions. Since such clearance spaces between the doors and the frames thereof determine the particular manner in which the switch assemblies are operatively installed, itis desirable to provide a switch assembly which is characterized by universality of installation and therefore is adaptable for mounting where various amounts of clearance exist between the doors and associated frames.

In the aforementioned patent, the applicant has shown and described a switch assembly which has been found to 3,432,634 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 be particularly suited for the above installation conditions by virtue of an adjustable feature wherein the switch is self-adjusted for the clearance that exists between a particular door and frame therefor when the door is closed for the first time. The switch assembly which is described herein comprises several improved features over the assembly in the aforesaid patent and the provision of such an improved switch assembly constitutes a primary object of the present invention.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved switch assembly of the above character which is adapted to be constructed with either single or multiple terminal means so that it may accommodate various types of electric circuits.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a switch assembly of the above character which is constructed in a manner such that common parts may be used to operatively secure single or multiple terminal means thereto.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved switch assembly of the above character which is constructed in a manner so as to impervious to attack by moisture, road salt, dirt and the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved switch assembly of the above character, which is of a simpledesign, easy to assemble and economical to commercially produce.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved switch assembly of the above character which is of a rugged construction and is thus reliable in operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable switch assembly of the above character which includes improved means for adjustably securing the adjustable or movable portions thereof to the fixed or immovable portions of the switch assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top elevational view of the improved switch assembly of the present invention, illustrated in operative association with fragmentary portions of an automobile door and its associated supporting frame, the door being shown in an open position;

FIGURE 2 is a top elevational view of the improved switch assembly of the present invention shown in operative association with the door and door frame portions illustrated in FIGURE 1, the door being shown in a closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the improved switch assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken along the line 3.3 there of;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line H of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and illustrates an alternate construction of the improved switch assembly of the present invention;

. FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of an alternate construction of the improved switch assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of another alternate construction of the improved switch assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of still another alternate construction of the improved switch assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of yet another alternate construction of the improved switch assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a modification of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 16 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a modification of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 13.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, a switch assembly 10, constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is shown in operative association with a closure member 12 that is at least partially supported upon an associated frame member 14 by means of a suitable hinge 16. The particular closure member illustrated herein is a vehicle door of a type commonly found on automotive and truck vehicles and which is adapted to be pivoted about a vertical hinged axis defined by a hinge pintle or pivot section 18 of the hinge 16 from the open position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The switch assembly 10 is adapted to be operatively mounted on a transversely extending door jamb section 20 of the frame member 14 and be selectively engaged by a transversely extending side portion 22 of the door or closure member 12 when the member 12 is biased to the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 2, whereby to selectively complete or break the particular electrical circuit or circuits to which the switch assembly 10 is operatively connected, as will later be described.

Referring now in detail to the construction of the switch assembly 10 as illustrated in FIGURES 3 through 5, the assembly 10 includes a body member 24 having an externally threaded shank section 26 that is adapted to be threaded within a suitable aperture 28 in the jamb section 20 and which terminates at its left end in a hexagonally shaped head section 30 that defines a plurality of wrench engaging facets 31 which facilitate mounting the member 22 in the aperture 28. If desired, the shank section 26 may be slightly tapered so as to be self-tapping when inserted within aperture 28, the body member 24 preferably being advanced into the aperture 28 until the head section 30 abuts against the outer face of the door jamb section 20, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The body member 24 is formed with a central longitudinal bore 32 which has a uniform diameter and extends completely through the member 24. Extending coaxially through the bore 32 is an elongated cylindrical plunger member 34 which has an enlarged diameter head section 36 formed on the left end thereof, the section 36 including a radially outwardly extending flange or shoulder portion 38 on the outer end thereof. The opposite (right) end of the plunger 34 is formed within an externally serrated or knurled end section 40 which is adapted to have a cylindrical terminal mounting block 42 press fitted thereon, as best seen in FIGURE 3..

The plunger member 34 is supported for reciprocal movement within an elongated thin-walled support tube 44 which has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the head section 36 of the plunger member 34 so that the member 34 is free to move toward the right end of the tube 34 until the shoulder portion 38 abuts against the left end of the tube 44. The right end of the tube 44 is formed with an internal annular groove which is provided by diverging and converging frustoconical sections 46 and 48, respectively, the latter of which defines a tapered contact surface 50 against which electrical terminals carried by the mounting block 42 engage, as will later be described. The right end of the tube 44 is also bent radially inwardly into engagement with the outer periphery of the plunger member 34, as seen at 52 in FIGURE 3.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the support tube 44 has a plurality of axially extending deformed portions or faces 54 formed therein, the particular number of faces 54 being shown as four, although this construction may be varied somewhat as will later be seen in the description of FIGURES 7 and 8. The medial portions of the faces 54 are spaced radially inwardly from the inner periphery of the bore 32, the portions or corners" of the tube 44 intermediate the faces 54 being in tight frictional contact with the bore 32, as seen at 55 in FIGURE 4. The dimensions of the tube 44 are such that upon assembly of the tube 44 within the bore 32, substantial force (approximately 50 pounds force), will be required to move the tube 44 axially within the bore 32 such that for all practical purposes, the tube 44 and body member 24 are fixedly secured to one another. It will be noted that with this construction, it is not necessary to provide any locking springs or the like, between the outer periphery of the tube 44 and the bore 32, hence materially reducing the number of components required for the switch construction 10 and to some degree simplifying the assembly thereof.

A helical return spring 56 extends coaxially within the tube 44 and is positioned around the outer periphery of the plunger member 34, the left end of the spring 56 abutting against the right end of the plungers head section 36 and the opposite (right) end of the spring 56 being seated against the converging section 48 on the right end of the tube 44. The spring 56 is sufficiently long so that it is maintained in a slight state of compression within the tube 44, thus the spring 56 will continuously resist movement of the plunger member 34 toward the right end of the tube 44.

The terminal mounting block 42 is preferably constructed of nylon or other non-conductive material such as plastic or the like, and is adapted to secure a pair of spaced, diametrically opposed terminal members, generally designated 58, to the plunger member 34. As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, each of the terminals 58 consist of an arcuate shaped body portion 60 of uniform radial dimension which terminates at their outer (right) end in a Hat conductor securing section 62. The terminals 58 are adapted to be secured to the mounting block 42 by having their body portions 60 press fitted within a pair of diametrically opposed, circumferentially extending openings 64 that extend longitudinally through the block 42. A pair of upstruck ears 66 are formed one on each of the terminal members 58 and are adapted to engage the left end of the block 42 for retaining the terminals 58 therein. It may be noted that since the block 42 is constructed of a somewhat resilient material, i.e., nylon, when the terminals 58 are inserted through the openings 64, the portions of the block 42 adjacent the openings 64 will deform sufiiciently to allow the ears 66 to be forced through the openings 64, the terminals 58 being lockingly secured within the block 42 at such times as the ears snap outwardly to engage the left end of a block 42. The sections 62 of the terminals 58 are formed with central apertures 68 through which the bared ends of electrical conductors (not shown) may be inserted, the ends of the conductors preferably being soldered or similarly secured to the terminal sections 62 in a manner well known in the art.

It will be seen from the construction above described that the right end of the support tube 44 and the left ends of the terminal members 58 function as switch terminals in the electrical circuit controlled by the switch assembly 10. More particularly, it will be seen that the return spring 56 normally forces the plunger member 34 toward the left end of the support tube 44, whereby the left ends of the terminal members 58 are forced into engagement with the tapered contact surface 50 defined at the right end of the tube 44. Accordingly, electrical current will be transmitted from one of the terminal members 58 through the support tube 44 to the other of said terminal members 58, and hence between the electrical conductors (not shown) which are connected to the terminal sections 62 of the members 58 to complete a particular electrical circuit, such as a lighting circuit or the like. It may be noted that the tapered const-ruction of the right end of the support tube 44 is highly desirable in that it provides for positive engagement of the left ends of the terminal members 58 with the support tube 44. At such time as the plunger member 34 is depressed, it will be forced toward the right end of the support tube 44 against the resistance of the return spring 56, thereby disengaging the left ends of the terminal members 58 from the contact surface 50 and hence breaking the electrical current between the two terminal members 58.

By way of example, the switch assembly of the present invention is adapted to be installed on the jamb section 20 of the frame member 14 by having the threaded shank section 26 of the body member 24 threadably mounted with in the opening 28 in the jamb section 20. Upon initial installation of the switch assembly 10, the support tube 44, together with the plunger member 34 which is supported therein, is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the support tube 44 being withdrawn from the body member 24 such that the head section 36 of the plunger member 34 is spaced a maximum distance from the body member 24. The closure member or door 12 is then biased to the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to automatically position a plunger member 34 at the desired distance from the switch actuating side portion 22 of the door 12 in the following manner. Upon closing the door 12, the side portion 22 initially contacts the shoulder portion 38 of the plunger member 34 and biases the head section 36 toward the right against the resistance of a return spring 56 to a position where the shoulder portion 38 engages the left end of the support tube 44. Upon continued closing movement of the door 12, the force of the door 12 against the plunger members head section 36 progressively moves the member 34 along with the support tube 44 longitudinally toward the right within the bore 32 of the body member 24 until the door 12 has been fully closed, at which time the support tube 44 and plunger member 34 are disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. When the door 12 is in this closed position, the plunger member 34 is depressed and maintains the left ends of the terminal members 58 spaced from the contact surface 50 of the support tube 44 and thus the electric circuit controlled by the switch assembly 10 is open. When the door member 12 is biased to the open position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the return spring 56 functions to bias the plunger member 34 toward the left end of the support tube 44, thereby causing the left ends of the terminal members 58 to engage the contact surface 50 of the support tube 44, whereby the circuit controlled by the switch 10 is completed.

A particular feature of the above described switch assembly 10 resides in the fact that the use of the switch is not limited to installations where the body member 24 must be groundedthrough the door jamb section 20 of the frame member 14, although such applications are not precluded by virtue of the fact that one of the terminalmembers 58 may very easily be grounded by merely connecting the frame member 14 with one of the terminals 58 through a suitable electric conductor. Accordingly, the switch assembly 10 of the present invention will find more widely varied application than was heretofore possible with the switch assembly disclosed in the applicant's Patent No. 2,921,155.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a slightly modified construction of the switch assembly 10 of the present invention and discloses a terminal mounting block 42a that is identical in smaller in circumferential dimension, are identical in construction and operation to the terminal members 58. it will thus be seen that the switch assembly 10 of the present invention may be easily adapted to accommodate electric circuits in which electric current must be selectively transmitted through three separate conductors upon actuation of the assembly 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 through 9, in another modified construction of the present invention, a switch assembly, generally designated 10b, is shown as comprising a body member 24b, a plunger member 34b, support tube 44b, return spring 56b and terminal mounting block 42b, all of which members correspond to the analogous parts designated by like numerals in the aforedescribed switch assembly 10. Also, these members are identical in function and construction to their corresponding parts of the assembly 10, with the exception that a nylon or plastic button 70 that is press fitted on an externally serrated or knurled end section 72 of the plunger member 34b is substituted for the head section 36 of the plunger member 34. Also, the shank section 26b of the body member 24b is externally serrated instead of being threaded and is thereby adapted to be press fitted within an opening 28b of the door jamb section 20b. It may be noted that for certain types of installation, the body member 24b together with the members designated by like numerals in the rest of the embodiments of the present invention, may be constructed of plastic, nylon, hard rubber or similar non-metallic material. In a similar manner for certain types of installations the plunger member 34b may be constructed of a non-metallic material, such as plastic or the like. Another difference of the switch assembly 10b from the assembly 10 will be seen in the construction of the support tube 44b. In particular and as best illustrated in FIGURE 8, the support tube 44b is shown as being formed with six axially extending deformed faces 54b which are analogous in construction to the faces 54 of the switch assembly 10, except for the fact that the faces 54b cause the support tube 44b to be generally hexagonal in cross section instead of square or rectangular. The axially extending portions of the support tube 44b intermediate the faces 54b are adapted to fractionally engage the bore 32b in the body member 24b so as to resist free axial movement of the support tube 44b and plunger member 34b relative to the body member 24b, as previously described. If desired, the support tube 44b may be constructed of plastic, nylon or a similar nonmetallic material and be circular in cross section although sl-ightly tapered toward the right end thereof, as illustrated in FIGURE 15. In this construction, the outer periphery of the tube 44b would be forced into engagement with the inner periphery of the body member 24b upon initial closing of the vehicle door, whereby to properly orient the members 44b and 24b.

The terminal mounting block 42b is shown as carrying a single terminal member 74 which comprises a pair of diametrically opposed contact sections 76 and 78 and a conductor mounting section 80. The terminal 74 is preferably formed from a single strip of metal which is bent back upon itself at its medial portion, the sections of the strip directly adjacent the bent portion beingpinched together to form the terminal mounting section 80. A suit able bore 68b is formed in thesection 80 and is adapted to receive the bared end of an electrical conductor (not shown), as was previously described in connection with the switch assembly 10. As best seen in FIGURE 9, the contact sections 76 and 78 are arcuate in shape and are of an identical configuration to the sections of the terminal members 58, the sections 76 and 78 being press fitted within suitable arcuate shaped openings 64b in the mounting block 42b and being adapted to selectively engage a contact surface 50b on the right end of the support tube 44b. A pair of up-struck ears 66b are formed on the contact sections 76 and 78 and function to lockingly secure the terminal 74 to the block 42b. If the support tube 44b is constructed of a non-metallic material, as illustrated in FIGURE 15, a suitable metallic sleeve or collar (not shown) may be provided on the right end of the tube 44b to communicate electric current between the terminal sections 76 and 78 and the body member 24b, as will hereinafter be described.

The switch assembly 10b is adapted to control electrical circuits of the type where the body member 24b and jamb section b are grounded through the frame of the associated vehicle or the like, the terminal member 74 being connected through a conductor (not shown) to the battery or other source of electrical power. In the switch assembly 10b, as in the assembly 10, the portions of the terminal 74 which engage the support tube 44b function as switch terminals in the circuit control by the assembly 10b. When the plunger member 34b is depressed, the contact sections 76 and 78 move out of engagement with the contact surface 50b to open the circuit and when the plunger member 34b is released, for example, upon opening the closure door 12, the return spring 56b resiliently urges the plunger :member 34b toward the left end of the support tube 44b, thereby engaging the contact sections 76 and 78 of the terminal 74 with the contact surface 50b to complete the circuit.

A particular feature of the present invention will be seen from the fact that the terminal mounting blocks 42 and 42b are of identical construction, although they function to operatively mount double terminals 58 and single terminal 74 on the switch assemblies 10 and 10b, respectively. Accordingly, it will be readily apparent that the design of the present invention lends itself to economical mass production by virtue of the fact that common elements, such as the body members, support tubes, plunger members and terminal mounting blocks, may be used in switch assemblies for controlling grounded and nongrounded circuits, i.e., circuits which require either one or two terminals.

Referring now to FIGURES 10 through 12, in still another modified construction of the present invention, a switch assembly, generally designated 100, is shown as comprising a body member 240, plunger member 340, support tube 440 and return spring 560, all of which members correspond to the analogous parts designated by like numerals in the aforediscussed switch assemblies 10 and 10b. In particular, the body member 24c is preferably identical to the body member 24, the plunger member 340 is identical to the plunger member 34b, and the support tube 440 is identical to the support tube 44, with the exception that the right end of the tube 44c is formed with an end section 82 which extends radially inwardly and defines a transverse terminal contact surface 84 and a central opening 86 through which the right end of the plunger member 340 extends. The plunger member 340 is formed with an externally serrated or knurled section 40c on the right end thereof which is adapted to be press fitted within a central opening 88 in a terminal mounting block 90 which is analogous in function to the aforedescribed mounting blocks 42, 42a and 42b, but which has a construction which differs somewhat from these members, as will hereinafter be described.

As best seen in FIGURE 11, the terminal mounting block 90 is generally triangular in transverse cross section and comprises three sections or lobes 92. Three axially extending bores, generally designated 94, are formed one in each of the lobes 92 and each has a tubular terminal member 96 press fitted therewithin. The terminals 96 extend an equal distance away from the left end of the mounting block 90 and are adapted to concomitantly engage the contact surface 84 of the end section 82 when the' plunger member 34c is in a non-depressed position. The right ends of the terminal members 96 are adapted to receive the bared ends of suitable electrical conductors, generally designated by the numeral 98. In order that the conductors are tightly secured within the interior of the terminals 96, the bared ends thereof may be provided with mounting sleeves constructed of a suitable conductive material such as cooper or the like, as indicated by the sleeve on the bared end of the conductor 98 in FIGURE 12. The dimensions of the sleeves 100 are preferably such that they may be press fitted within the terminals 96 so as to fixedly secure the electrical conductors to the switch assembly 100.

The switch assembly 10c is adapted to function in exactly the same manner as the aforedescribed assembly 10 in that the circuit controlled by the assembly 100 is closed when the plunger member 340 is in the nondepressed position illustrated in FIGURE 10, which circuit will be opened upon depressing the plunger member 340 which results in the left ends of the terminal members 96 being urged out of engagement with the contact surface 84 on the right end of the support tube 440.

Referring now to FIGURE 13, in still another modified construction of the present invention, a switch assembly, generally designated 10d, is shown as comprising a body member 24d, plunger member 34d, support tube 44d, return spring 56d, terminal mounting block 42d and terminal members 58d, all of which members correspond to the analogous parts designated by like numerals in the aforedescribed switch assembly 10. Also, these members are identical in function and construction to their corresponding parts of the assembly 10, with the exception of the support tube 44d which is modified slightly from the construction illustrated and described in connection with the assembly 10. In particular, the right end of the support tube 44d is formed with a converging end section 102 which extends radially inwardly and terminates at its radially innermost portion of a diverging or radially outwardly extending section 104. The section 104 defines a frusto-conical or tapered contact surface 106 which is adapted to cooperate with the left ends of the terminal members 58d to provide the switch terminals for the assembly 10d. The tapered construction of the end section 104 is adapted to function in a manner similar to the tapered end section 50 of the support tube 44 to provide for positive engagement of the left ends of the terminal members 58d with the contact surface 106, the return spring 56d continuously forcing the plunger member 34d toward the left end of the tube 44d and hence assuring good electrical contact between the terminals 58d and the contact surface 106.

If desired, the support tube 44d may be circular in cross-section and the body member 24d may be formed with one or more flats or facets 107 which extend axially within the bore 32d thereof. As seen in FIGURE 16, the flats 107 are adapted to frictionally engage the outer periphery of the support tube 44d to limit any axial sliding movement between the members 44d and 24d.

Referring now to FIGURE 14, in yet another modified construction of the present invention, a switch assembly, generally designated 10e, is shown as comprising a plunger member 34c, support tube 44e, return spring 568, terminal mounting block 42e and terminal member 74e, all of which members correspond to the analogous parts designated by like numerals in the aforedescribed embodiments of the switch assembly of the present invention. In particular, the members 34a, 42e, 44a and 562 are identical to the corresponding parts in the switch assembly 10, and the member 74s is identical to the corresponding part in the switch assembly 10b. The support tube 44e extends coaxially Within a central bore 108 of a cylindrical body member, generally designated by the numeral 110 and comprising an elongated shank portion 112 and a terminal retaining flange section 114. The outer periphery of the shank section 112 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally. extending, circumferentially spaced serrations and with av circumferential extending groove 118. The body member 110 is adapted to be press fitted within the left end of an axially extending central bore 120 that is formed within an external housing member, generally designated 122. The diameter of the left end of the bore 120 is preferably such that the shank section 112 of the body member 110 tightly engages the inner periphery of the bore 120 so as to rigidly secure the members 110 and 122 together. The diameter of the right end of the bore 120 is preferably suchthat the terminal mounting block 42e may move freely in an axial direction within the bore 120.

. The housing 122 is preferably constructed of a somewhat resilient, corrosion-resistant material, such as hard rubber or the like and comprises a cylindrical, slightly tapered rear section 124 and a radially outwardly extending forward section 126, the rear (right) side of the section 126 being radially aligned with the forward (left) side of the groove 118 in the body member 110. The housing member 122, together with the body member 110, support tube 442, plunger 34e, etc., is adapted to be operatively mounted within an Opening 28:: in a suitable mounting bracket 127 by forcing the section 124 thereof through the opening 28e until the rear face of the section 126 engages the front side of the bracket 127, as illustrated in FIGURE 14. When the housing member 122 is thus installed within the opening 28e, it will be noted that a medial portion of the housing member 122 radially aligned with the bracket 127 is forced radially inwardly into the groove 118 in the body member 110, thus positively securing the members 110 and 122 together. The forward section 126 of the body member 122 is formed with an annular recess 128 at the left end thereof, which recess is somewhat larger in diameter than the bore 120 and is adapted to receive the radially outwardly extending section 114 of the body member llt) when the switch assembly 10:: is assembled in the maiiner above described. A terminal member, generally designated 130 and comprising a conductor securing section 132 and a ring-shaped mounting section 134, is carried on the left end of the assembly 102. In particular, the terminal member 130 is secured to the assembly 10e by having the mounting section 134 thereof compressed between the right side of the section 114 of the body member 110 and the left side of the recess 128 formed in the left end of the housing member 122, an appropriate section of the left end of the body member 122 being cut away as seen at 136 in FIGURE 14 to accommodate for the conductor mounting section 132 of the terminal member 130. A suitable aperture 138 is formed in the outer end of the terminal section 132 and is adapted to receive the bared end of a suitable electrical conductor (not shown) in the circuit which the switch assembly 10a is adapted to control. It will be seen that the terminal member 132 is in a current-conducting relationship with the right end of the support tube 44e by virtue of the fact that the mounting section 134 of the terminal member 130 abuts against the section 114 of the body member 110 and that the body member 110 in turn is engaged with the outer periphery of the support tube 44a.

The switch assembly 10e is adapted to find particularly useful application as a stop-light switch where the plunger member 34e thereof is depressed upon actuation of a vehicle brake pedal. It will be noted that the rear section 124 of the housing member 122 entirely encloses the switch terminals of the assembly 10a which consist of the left end of the terminal member 74e and the right end of the support tube 442, and thereby prevents road dirt, moisture and the like as is commonly quite prevalent around vehicle brake pedals, from accumulating on the terminal member 74 and support tube 44c. Accordingly, the housing member 122 acts as a moisture and dirt resistant shield or barrier around the electrical terminals of the, assembly 10e and thus assuresthat the. assembly 10e will have a long and. effective. operational life.

In use, the bracket 127 is preferably mounted such that the assembly 10:: ispositioned adjacent the switch engaging portion of the brake pedal or the like, suitable conductors (not shown) being connected to the terminal members 130 and 74e such that the switch assembly 10e is connected with the brake light circuit. The associated brake pedal is then depressed, thereby moving the plunger member 34e into engagement with the left end of the support tube 442, resulting in the support tube 44e moving axially of the body. member and housing 122 until the left end of the plunger member 34e is-disposed at a preselected position relative to the aforesaid brake pedal. As' the plunger member 134:: is depressed, the left end of the terminal 74e is biased out of engagement with the right end of, the support tube 44e,, thereby opening the circuit controlled by the switch assembly 10e. Upon releasing the 'vehicle brake pedal, the. plunger member 34e will move toward the left end of the support tube 44e under the influence of the return spring 56s, thus resiliently engaging the terminal member 74e with the right end of the support tube Me to close the aforesaid circuit.

It will be seen from all of the foregoing switch constructions that the present invention provides a new and improved switch assembly that has several highly desirable characteristics, not shown in the applicants Patent No. 2,921,155. In particular, the present invention discloses a new and improved switch assembly that is adapted to be operatively utilized in various types of electrical circuits with which heretofore known versions of the subject switch construction could not be associated. Furthermore, the improved switch assembly of the present invention is characterized by a design in which virtually each component may be commonly used in such assemblies designed to accommodate different types of electrical circuits, i.e., grounded and non-grounded type circuits. Moreover, the switch assembly of the present invention comprises means for preventing moisture, road dirt or the like, from interfering with positive electrical contact between the switch terminals thereof and hence the subject switch assembly will have a long and effective operational life.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments herein illustrated are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switch assembly:

a tubular support member constructed of an electrically conductive material,

a plunger reciprocably disposed within said support member,

terminal carrying means constructed of a non-conductive material rigidly secured to one end of said plunger,

multiple terminal means each comprising first portions for communication with electrical conductors and second portions secured to said terminal carrying means,

a body member defining a cavity for supporting said support member for adjustable sliding movement longitudinally of said body member, one of said members having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending portions thereon tightly frictionally engageable with circumferentially spaced portions around the periphery of other of said members, whereby said support member is axially movable relative to said body member upon application of a preselected axially directed force against said plunger but said support member is axially immovable relative to said body member upon application of an axially directed force against said plunger of any magnitude less than said preselected force.

2. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1 which includes at least two hollow cylindrical terminals supported by said carrying means and adapted to operatively engage said support member to complete a circuit therebetween upon preselected reciprocal movement of said plunger, and which includes a hollow elongated external housing extending around said body member and at least a portion of said support member and constructed of a de formable, corrosion-resistant material.

3. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1 which includes an additional terminal means mounted on said body member and adapted to be electrically communicable with said first mentioned terminal means upon preselected reciprocal movement of said plunger.

4. A switch assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein terminal carrying means is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending elongated openings, and which includes a terminal member comprising a conductor mounting section and a pair of securing sections disposed within said openings, whereby the ends of said securing sections are adapted to selectively engage the adjacent end of said support member, and thereby complete a circuit between said terminal member and said body member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,451 7/1918 Jennison et a1. 29-525 3,069,516 12/1962 Wiflin. 3,104,532 9/1963 Severinsson 287-114 XR ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,432 ,634 March ll 1969 Michael J. Basso It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 35, "principle" should read principles line 59 "then" should read their Column 6 line 49 "fractionally" should read frictionally Column 8 line 8, "cooper" should read copper Column 12, line 13, "Wiffin" should read Whiffin same column 12, list of References Cited, add the following references 2,921,155 1/1960 Basso. 3,115,559 12/1963 Cass. 3,244,829 4/1966 Webb.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

